Breaking Barriers: How English Learning Transformed a Refugee Woman’s Life in Bidibidi

Halima Rhona, a 44-year-old South Sudanese refugee, has lived in the Bidibidi refugee settlement since 2016. Arriving in Uganda, she faced significant challenges. “When I first arrived, I didn’t know how to even read a signpost since they were in English. I only knew how to read and write Arabic,” she shares. Her struggles with language were especially evident when her daughter fell ill. In the hospital, Halima had to rely on a translator, but she felt that the information wasn’t being communicated clearly. “It was difficult because I felt like what was being translated didn’t fully explain my daughter’s condition,” she recalls.

In the face of these challenges, Halima started a small business to support her family. She began baking and selling cookies. However, communication with non-Arabic-speaking customers was a constant barrier. She missed many opportunities because of the language gap.

In 2022, Halima took a pivotal step toward changing her life by joining the English for Adults (EFA) program, implemented by UN Women in partnership with Refugee Law Project. “When I joined EFA, I had never been in any English class. Everything was new. It was hard to understand,” she admits.

For the first month, she frequently asked her teacher to repeat lessons and sometimes even translate words into Arabic. Despite failing the test at the end of Level 1 and having to repeat the course, Halima’s determination never wavered. In 2023, she passed Level 1 and moved on to Level 2 in 2024.

This accomplishment marked a turning point in Halima’s life. “I can now speak to my customers,” she proudly states. Her ability to communicate in English has been a game-changer for her business. Before joining EFA, Halima sold doughnuts and sometimes hawked them at school. As her English improved, so did her customer base. She began attracting English-speaking customers, which helped her expand her business. She eventually rented a room and opened a tea shop, where she sells doughnuts alongside tea.

The EFA program equips learners with both literacy and numeracy skills. The numeracy skills have helped Halima run her business more efficiently. “Before, calculating money was hard. I made losses because I didn’t keep proper records,” she explains. Now, Halima keeps track of her finances, ensuring that she no longer loses money and can calculate her profits with ease.

Beyond the financial benefits, Halima’s involvement in EFA has had a profound impact on her sense of empowerment. “Learning to speak English is empowering because we also learn about our rights as women,” she shares. Halima encourages other refugee women to embrace educational opportunities, especially since they are provided at no cost. “It’s life-changing,” she says.

After completing Level 2 of EFA, she joined Bible school and is set to graduate with a certificate in Bible study and evangelism. Her ultimate dream is for her daughter to complete her education and one day become a lawyer. Halima herself hopes to finish the EFA program up to Level 5, earning a certificate that will allow her to further develop her skills and expand her opportunities.